First of all let me say that this post is NOT intended to be turned into a Prime bashing thread. I am simply seeking advice from experienced truckers.

I got into trucking with the goal of getting out of debt, organizing my finances, and to eventually get a local driving job. I finished Prime's over the road training program (6 months) and I feel I have benefited from it greatly. But I've been leasing my own truck now for a month and I've still got negative settlements. I'm not making the money I need to be making to get my debt whiped out and get a local job after 2 years over the road.

Now JB Hunt has offered me a dedicated job, which pays 60,000 a year, as a company driver, hauling freight between wal-mart centers. 14 days out, 3 days home garunteed. This sounds like a great deal but I'm wanting to hear from you guys if this is a good thing or not? I don't know much about JB Hunt. I like the idea of only dealing with one customer and having consistancy in my job. Do they run good equipment? How do they treat their drivers? It would also bring money in right away, and I wouldn't have to worry about a lease payment or paying for fuel. Leaving Prime now would leave me owing them 1500 for training for leaving before my commitment. But what good is that doing if I'm not making money? I beleive if I were to stay with Prime for a while and stick it out I'd be successful here, but since my goal is to be out of debt and off the road in two years, Prime doesn't seem to be able to meet my goals. What do you guys think about the offer from JB Hunt?

Thanks,

Ryan

 

50-60k is believable as jb pays about 40 cpm and you should have no problem getting 2500 miles with Wal-mart . I'm not completely sure about wal-mart but many dedicated runs will true your miles up to a promised amount so if you only have 1800 mile wk you will still get 2500 miles paid . But I have heard Wal-mart dedicated is a good account to be on with every carrier that services the account but some are better than other ...

 

Let me see. You can stay with prime and lose money every week or go with J.B. Hunt and make $60,000? :roll: If it were me, I would not let the door hit my back side before taking the job with J.B. Hunt. Although, it does seem like a lot of money for someone with only 6 months experience.

 

Well, if you did not wind up earning the $60K, but DID wind up earning 40CPM @ 2500miles per week, that would STILL be $1,000. per week, or $52K per year, and for a driver with 6mos. experience, them ain't bad crackers at all!!!

My advice???

$60K sounds nice, but remember that it may or may not happen. Rather than approaching this from an "all or nothing" standpoint where the $60K is concerned, and focus instead upon getting your life moving in the proper direction.

I applaud you for wanting to get out of debt, but it ain't gonna' happen With Crime. With your offer from JB, it can happen. As Mr. G-Man so correctly advised, "Don't let the door hit'ya where The Good Lord splitt'ya!!

What more need be said?? 8)

 

What are you waiting for?

 

I guess it's just that I'm not the type to give up or quit and I feel that maybe I'm not giving Prime a chance. That maybe if I stick it out a while longer things will get better. I'm just not a quitter, I don't like to give up. So it's hard making up my mind to leave, if that makes sense.

 

When I drove for JB Hunt 4 years ago, I hauled Wal-Mart trailers preceding Thanksgiving. JB Hunt was not my dispatcher. I REPEAT; JB Hunt was NOT my dispatch. Do you get my meaning?!?!? :P

If this has not changed and you can get onto a Wal-Mart account, I would not hesitate. Those accounts are often snapped up quickly.

In 3 weeks I did one back haul from a Wal-Mart vendor (like a regular driver). The rest of the time I took a full trailer from a DC to a store, then brought back the empty. EASY money.

They run almost exclusively Freightliner Century class tractors.

I highly recommend it.

 

A very wise man once said, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again....after that?? Give it up!! There's no point in being a dammed fool about it!!
8)

 

I have talked to a couple of drivers for JB who are running dedicated Wal-mart accounts and they are loving it. If your loosing money now bail out driver

 

I have talked with those on the Wal-Mart account while I was there....if you can get it, take it..but beware, SOME recruiters may promised that account to you just to get you to orientation. Make sure you are HIRED before you leave prime. I was OTR with JB Hunt, and very disgruntal about what happened to me.